Summary

In Chapter 16, the phone wakes Lafayette that afternoon. He is dreaming that his mother is rubbing his feet, as she used to do. Ty'ree and Charlie are asleep, but Ty'ree yells for someone to answer, and Lafayette gets up as his mother fades from his sight. Lafayette's friend Smitty is on the phone, asking if Lafayette wants to go play some ball. Smitty says their aunt was getting ready for church, so Smitty and P.J. made up an excuse to leave. Lafayette agrees to meet them, but takes time to shower and dress. Charlie wakes as Lafayette is dressing. Lafayette thinks Charlie might be about to say something or offer to go to the park with him, but Charlie lies back down. Lafayette wishes Charlie would go, but he does not know how to say so.

In Chapter 17, Smitty and P.J...